‘The Book of Two Ways’ by Jodi Picoult shows how incredibly she writes about family and how great she is at research.
The story starts with Dawn Edelstein on a plane about to have a crash landing. As her perceived end looms closer, her thoughts don’t linger on her husband and daughter as much they go to Wyatt Armstrong and the life with him she didn’t have. She survives the crash but questions the life she’s leading. Though she loves her husband and daughter, she can’t shake off her past now that Wyatt is in her mind. The book shows the two ways her life can be, though the ending and her choice is anyone’s guess.

All believable characters need good research behind them but the depth of research Picoult did on her character’s professions is impressive. Wyatt is an archaeologist in Egypt, Brian, her husband, is a physicist and she is a death doula, in a beautifully bizarre mix and readers will feel educated on Egyptology and quantum physics by the end of the book. While some might find it fascinating, others who simply want a family drama might find it a little heavy.

Picoult is known for both thought-provoking and heart-warming books but this book is educating as well. It isn’t a fast read but it’s definitely one worth getting lost in.

Overall I really liked this story. I loved the sliding doors idea. I really liked reading about ancient Egypt. I felt though that the story felt very bogged down in places. This is a very emotional and thought provoking memorable read.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

The minute I read some of the reviews of this book I decided I must read it. As many other people, I have a slight fascination for Egyptology – with a copy of the Book of the Dead in my study and 800 pictures taken during an unforgettable holiday to Egypt in 2012. In contrast to the situation nowadays, as the author describes, we took trains without a problem and even visited Minya. I must admit that the situation for tourists was deemed rather dangerous, so with a group of 18 people we were accompanied the whole way by at least 20 police officers. In more than one way, a holiday I will never forget but if I could do it all over, I would take The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult with me. Apart from all the other aspects that make this book so special, I could practically feel the heat and smell the smells again. And don’t forget, the beautiful colours of the paintings and the very, very impressive temples.
You can call this a life-changing book. Who would have thought that mixing physics with Egyptology would lead to such an outstanding novel. Yes, sometimes it is necessary to have Wikipedia on hand to clarify certain details, but all in all it is a spectacular mix. We follow Dawn’s footsteps in past and present, but learn from Brian that past and present are not always what we think they are. And due to the strange habit for women to having to give up your name when you get married, at one point the story could have lead a whole other way, which sums up a big part of the book in just one sentence, spoken to Dawn when she travels to Egypt the second time.
I had to sit and think about this book for a couple of days because it made such an impact. I’m very happy to have read it. If you are interested in Egyptology, you really must read it. If you’re not, but want to read an extraordinary story, you really must read it. It’s more than a book; it teaches us things – different things for different readers. If it was up to me, I would give this book every prize there is to be won.
Many thanks to Netgalley for this review copy.

I've read many of Jodi Picoult's earlier books - this is the first one I've picked up for a while and it feels really different from the earlier format so many of her books had. It's nice to explore different kinds of stories and seeing them through JP's eyes is even more wonderful. I wouldn't say this is my favourite Jodi Picoult book, at times I found it a little wordy – perhaps too much about Ancient Egypt that maybe didn't have as much relevance to the story. But by the end I am glad I read it, I am glad I persevered in the moments I was less sure, and I'm grateful to have been able to explore this world, and the characters that JP brought so wonderfully to life. I was so intrigued by the concept of a death doula and it did not disappoint, but to also have that tangled up in a story about life and love, as well as Egyptology, it was really wonderful. It makes me want to work through the rest of JP's novels that I have yet to read and see what worlds, what experiences, I am missing out on.

This book appealed to me as I love anything to do with ancient Egypt, and I have loved many of Jodi Picoult’s other books.

The book is written with chapters separated into Boston and Egypt and due to the timeline of the story moving between the past and present, sometimes I was left a little confused as to when certain events happened in relation to others - but persevere, all will be made clear.

The Egyptian parts of the book were very descriptive and you could really imagine yourself under the scorching heat of the sun, or exploring in the staleness of a long forgotten tomb.

I also enjoyed learning about Dawns unusual job as a death doula. The way Jodi writes about death, combining it with the beliefs of the ancient Egyptians was truly thought provoking.

I felt that this book leaned a bit too heavily into the non-fiction side in some areas, especially when Dawns husband is describing the physics of multiverses etc, compared to other books by the author. This was a shame as it prevented me loving the story. It was an enjoyable read however, especially if you enjoy ancient Egypt.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

When your life flashes before your eyes, will you regret the life you've chosen? This is the dilemma facing Dawn Edelstein when she's involved in a plane crash. Instead of seeing her life with husband Brian and their daughter, it's another man she sees. A man she hasn't seen in 15 years. When she's then given the chance to see what could have been, Dawn takes the path unknown and the path well travelled. Two lives, running side by side.

I really enjoyed all the aspects of Egyptian mythology and death culture that played a heavy role in the story. It's clearly very well researched, and told with a passion for the subject. However I do think the plot suffers as a result. There's almost too much information to take in and it overshadowed the themes of regret, destiny and living the life you want. It also drags down the pacing, as just as we get a plot development we are given more information on quantum physics or mythology. Interesting, but it didn't really add to the plot.

I will say that the writing is beautiful. Picoult has a way with words that draws the reader in. I also liked Dawn as a character. She's driven, intelligent and passionate. Although that said, I wasn't keen on her relationship with her daughter and I found I couldn't really connect emotionally with their struggling relationship.

Interesting concepts, great writing, but the plot struggles in a swamped down encyclopedia of Egyptian lore and scientific theories.

The Book ok of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult was a different read from the one I had expected from Jodi. I’m used to her writing, where she gives tremendous insight into moral dilemmas covering issues such as abortion, disability etc. This book does maintain her superb standards of research and certainly educates whilst telling a gripping story. Initially I thought the Egyptian historical perspective was going to be too heavy for my liking but Jodi hit a great balance so that I loved learning about the history and belief systems, alongside and intertwined with Dawn’s very credible life choices and dilemmas (& love interest of course). A gripping storyline with credible likeable characters. Four stars

Really not sure on this book. I have read all of Jodi's books and enjoyed them all. The first one I read, 'My Sister's Keeper', just took my breath away, but this one?...not so much. I enjoyed some of the Egyptology but felt that it went on about it a bit too much and was overwhelming at times. I also found that I was struggling to pronounce some of the words and names and in the end called them something different just to try to keep the flow of the book going. I found the death doula part interesting (here in the UK I'd never heard of one before) and enjoyed the relationship between Dawn and Win the most. The ending also seemed a bit abrupt I could have done with another chapter and after reading the end a few times, I'm not 100% sure who she chose. Is that just me, is it obvious who she chose and I keep missing it or did the author intend for the reader not to know and leave them wondering? I'm only sorry that I didn't enjoy this book as much as all the others I have read.

I was really looking forward to this book. I loved the sliding doors-esque premise and after a climactic start was hoping for a great ride.
Sadly, once the two paths started, the story became very busy and it felt like there was just too much in there.

Something I’ve always admired about Jodi Picoult’s works is her ability to take on a subject, research it, and then weave a beautifully structured story into that research. One that is often heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.

The Book of Two Ways is no exception to this rule, and there’s a lot to love about this latest offering. It has the usual things you’d expect from Picoult’s work, it’s well written, has a set of intriguing and fleshed out characters, it’s compelling, rich in its descriptions, and is just so damn readable...

But, and unfortunately there is a but, I felt that this one had a little too much research. Three core and interconnected themes are explored in this book: Egyptology, Death, and Quantum Physics.
Each are interesting concepts on their own, but all of them are represented in this novel in such vast quantities, and quite drily, that at times I felt like I was reading a textbook on the subjects and not a work of fiction.

And yet, I could not draw myself away from the book. I could not let it sit idle, unread. I had to find out how this story, with its topsy turvey, sliding doors narrative ended. My heart was in my throat at the pivotal moments. I needed pauses to process, I had to remind myself to breath, I had to reread passages to hold onto the emotion that waved over me.

I loved this story, but I struggled to get past the over-inclusion of research. In another world, I might have loved it more, in yet another I may have abandoned it. In this world, I’m giving it 3 stars, as it was still a positive, mostly enjoyable experience, and it made me feel so many feelings. Where so many of Picoult’s books have been hit or miss with me over the years. I am surprised and glad to have found one steadier right in the middle.

Many thanks to Jodi Picoult, Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

2 stars

I love Jodi Picoult books however this book was a little too intense for me.

Dawn Edelstein survives a plane crash yet, instead of thinking about her live back in Boston with her husband and child, she finds herself thinking of her past life in Egypt. and of her first love Wyatt.
This book is good, it is well researched and there are a lot of different things happening however for me, I found myself almost thinking I was studying for an exam. I was constantly looking things up in order to understand the context of the story. It was just a little too heavy for my reading taste.

As I said this book is highly researched and for that I do applaud Jodi Picoult's effort.

Thank you Hodder Books and Hodder Publishing for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I’d like to thank Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Book Of Two Ways’ by Jodi Picoult in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Dawn is a death doula helping people on their journey between life and death, but when she survives a plane crash rather than go home to her husband Bryan and daughter Meret in Boston instead she flies to Cairo where she was a PHD student and first met Wyatt, the love of her life. She contemplates whether had she made different choices her life could have been different.

As a lifetime fan of Jodi Picoult (and also fortunate to be in a theatre audience as she discussed her latest book), I was delighted to be offered a copy of ‘The Book Of Two Ways’ to read. Unfortunately it felt more like a text book on Egyptology than fiction, I didn’t enjoy it at all and struggled to read it. Perhaps I should have persevered, and I may well go back to it in a few months, but I didn’t get a spark and the characters didn’t enthuse me. From reading other reviews it’s clear that my opinions are in the minority but I promised to give an honest review so can only apologise that I didn’t get to the end.

Life is all about making choices. Have you ever wondered if you are on the right path in life? Where would you be right now if you had made a different choice? If you died today, would you be happy that you had a good life? The Book of Two Ways could have you reflecting on your choices and asking yourself these questions. I'm not going to lie this novel stirred up my emotions!

Dawn is a death doula, providing practical and emotional help to those with a terminal diagnosis, as well as supporting their loved ones cope with the dying process. After 15 years of marriage, she recognises that the relationship is becoming complacent. Dawn can't help but wonder how differently her life would have been if it had taken a different direction. Before her marriage, she had abandoned her studies in Egyptology and left-behind a fellow student she had fallen madly in love with. While taking care of a client's last wish she comes to realise that she cannot let go of her past and the missed opportunities. To add to her predicament she then has to deal with being a survivor of a plane crash.

This was the first Jodi Picoult novel I have read and it certainly didn’t disappoint! My reason for not rating the novel the full 5-stars was due to the intricate level of detail around the subject of Egyptology. I do appreciate that the author has put a ton of time and research into the study of Ancient Egypt, though for me, it was a little too descriptive. That being said, I did learn lots of fascinating facts, especially about the coffin spells and The Deceased's journey to the afterlife! I have never considered visiting Egypt, but this book has made me curious about visiting the tombs in Ancient Egypt, though for now, a trip to The British Museum to visit their Egyptian collections will have to suffice. I look forward to reading some of her other novels.

Thank you NetGalley, Jodi Picoult and Hodder and Stoughton for my ARC in return for my honest review.

Jodi Picoult is one of my favourite authors and this book, although a totally different style to her earlier novels is still just as good, if not better.
The characters, the exploration of Egyptology, quantum physics, life, death, love, paths not taken..... There is so much going on in this novel, that I needed to read it slowly, ponder over some of the themes whilst thoroughly enjoying the reading process.
I was provided with a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Book of Two ways makes you think about the possibility of multiple lives, or multiple ways your life could turn out.
This is a love story like no other.
We meet Dawn, the main character, at a time when her life could go either way. We read in alternative chapters the two ways. One in Boston with her Husband of 15 years and her daughter Meret. The other, where she flees to Egypt to rekindle a lost love, not just the man she loved but the career she loved too.
Although I enjoyed this story I didn’t love it as much as I have loved the previous books from this author. At times I felt I was wading through it, then at other times I felt like I needed to find out what was going to happen and which way Dawn would choose if she could.
Thanks go to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review

I read so much that it’s rare that a book really touches me. It was a slow start for me with The Book of Two Ways. I kept reading it at bedtime and falling asleep midway through a chapter but then I committed and wow.
It was so beautifully written, as everything is by Jodi Picoult but I loved the focus on ancient Egypt. I read Picoult’s novels obsessively through my teenage years so it was so nice to visit. A firm favourite.

Firstly, a huge thanks to NetGalley and Hodder for the ARC of this book.

Secondly, full disclosure... I'm a Jodi Picoult fan.

And finally, my review. Dawn is a death doula - she helps the terminally ill to transition from life to death (and how relevant during this Covid-19 pandemic?), when she's on a flight she is almost killed in a plane crash. The airline tells her she can have a flight to anywhere - she chooses her first loves: Egypt and Wyatt!

The story unfolds between Dawn's current life with her husband and daughter and her previous life as a college student on her way to becoming an Egyptologist. It's a story of love and loss and how to come to terms with both.

Plus, its packed with ancient Egypt information, gorgeous details of the culture and landscape and hieroglyphics.

A must read for Jodi'd fans :)

So I started reading this book and did think I’d picked up an Egyptology textbook mixed with a book on parallel timelines. There just felt like far too much content however I persevered and I’m so glad I did. The book is so much more than that. I loved the relationships Dawn builds up as a death doula and I also sobbed at the end about her own family relationships. Yes the book does require some decent concentration at times however I ended up really enjoying it.

If you are a regular follower of my blog you will know that I am a huge Jodi Picoult fan. I have all of her books in hardcover and have read every single one. When her latest release appeared on NetGalley and I was sent a link to download the ARC, I was very excited to read it. I’d like to thank Hodder & Stoughton for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It’s safe to say that Picoult starts her story with a bang! Dawn has just survived a plane crash and as a reader we see how her life could unfold in two ways depending on which path she chooses. The book from there is split into land and water chapters which made it easy to follow which path she was on.

To begin with I found I had to concentrate a lot on the information about Ancient Egypt and Dawn’s work as an Egyptologist. Whilst I found this interesting it did make the first part of the book a little slow so it wasn’t until I reached about 20% that I felt fully invested in the story.

After that initial start I was finding every excuse possible to sit and read and I even stayed up quite late to finish the rest of the story. I loved Dawn’s work as a death doula and her latest client Win was a really nice addition to the story. I thought all the concepts around death and what we as humans think of it was fascinating and until this book I hadn’t understood what a death doula actually did for their clients.

Dawn as a character had a lot on her shoulders and I felt that weight had been there since she returned from Egypt as a young adult. Whilst some of her actions were questionable I couldn’t help but understand her reasons and I must admit I was routing for her and Wyatt from their first meeting.

Without spoiling the ending I thought it was a perfect way to complete the story. In true Picoult style you think you’ve understood the paths and what the story is all about and then the final revelations knock you sideways.

Picoult is a true master of her work from research to characters and plot I always find myself hooked one way or another. By the end I feel like she has given me a little piece of education or food for thought that causes me to reflect. A fantastic read and another great addition to the collection.

The book opens with a plane crashing, Dawn is the main character and survives the crash. As with anyone going through something like this she evaluates her life. Married and with a teenager - job as a death doula, go back to that life, or head back to Egypt to the man she loved and left and her dreams - working on a proper archaeological dig. Her life can go one of two ways, which will Dawn choose?

The book is so busy! There are flashbacks to the past, her life and work in Egypt and of course Wyatt, the one who "got away". We see how they met, clashed, worked together and learn a whole ton of Egyptian stuff which I actually found quite interesting, even if some was a bit over my head. Same with quantum physics, there was a lot to chew over in the book, besides all the relationship/self assessing journey. I Think a glossary would have helped with some of this.

The death doula job was very interesting and emotive, we get to see Dawn in action, what she does for her clients and how hard and special that kind of job is. Examining relationships from her past, present, with her husband, daughter, clients it is a busy busy book.

Really different to what I was expecting, the opening with the plane going down was so well done, my heart was in my mouth. Some of the other topics I found interesting, who doesn't find Egyptian stuff interesting and there was even a picture or two in the arc kindle version. Huge central focus on relationships, many types, if you escaped death - would it change up how you lived your life?
3.5/5 for me this time, I do enjoy Picoult books and have a few on my tbrm still to read.